Career Journey – How Stefano Di Giuda Found His Path in Sales Leadership

When Stefano Di Giuda studied business management in Italy, he imagined a future in financial analysis, not leading sales teams across Europe.

“I liked numbers,” he says with a smile.

But during an internship in sales, Stefano discovered something unexpected: he enjoyed working with people just as much as analysing data. That experience completely changed the direction of his career.

Today, based in Valencia, Stefano leads a Xometry’s Italian sales team, helping manufacturers embrace a faster, more digital way of working.

Building Trust in a Traditional Industry

Leading the Italian market comes with unique challenges.

“In Italy, relationships are extremely important in manufacturing,” Stefano explains. “People want to know who they are working with. Very often, business starts with a coffee and a conversation before anything else.”

That mindset initially made some companies cautious about adopting a digital manufacturing platform.

“At the beginning, some customers were sceptical because our model is very different from traditional sourcing,” he says. “But once they understand that we are not just a platform, we are a real partner that helps simplify their work, everything changes.”

For Stefano, building trust is just as important as delivering results.

His team works closely with customers to help them move away from managing multiple suppliers and toward a more streamlined, reliable process through Xometry.

“What I enjoy most is helping companies realise there is a smarter way to work,” he says.

From Individual Contributor to Team Leader

Stefano joined Xometry as a Key Account Manager before growing into his current leadership role.

The transition taught him an important lesson: sales is not only about performance, but it is also about people.

“Leading a team pushed me to develop completely new skills,” he says. “You learn how to motivate different personalities, how to prioritise, and how to make decisions quickly.”

Today, he manages a team focused on the Italian market while collaborating daily with Marketing, Operations, and Engineering.

“Not two days are the same,” Stefano says. “One moment I am discussing strategy with the team, the next I am solving a customer challenge or working with engineers on a complex project.”

That fast-moving environment is exactly what keeps him motivated.

“I like building things,” he says. “Not only business growth, but also teams and relationships.”

An International Mindset

Before settling in Valencia, Stefano lived in Berlin, Dublin, and Santiago — experiences he believes shaped both his personality and leadership style.

“Living in different countries teaches you adaptability very quickly,” he says. “You learn how to communicate with different people, understand different perspectives, and stay curious.”

That curiosity continues to guide him today.

“I would tell my younger self to keep taking risks and not be afraid of making mistakes,” Stefano says. “Every experience teaches you something valuable.”

Growing with Xometry

For Stefano, one of the biggest motivations at Xometry is the opportunity to grow quickly and continuously learn.

“If you are proactive and committed, you can evolve very fast here,” he says. “There is a lot of trust and responsibility from the beginning.”

Looking back at his own journey — from Key Account Manager to Sales Leader — Stefano sees curiosity as the common thread.

“Never lose your curiosity,” he says. “That is what ultimately drives growth.”